The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-19
How the Murder of the Rev. Thomas
Ryan Has Been Revenged.
A Gang Of Murderous Robbers Very
Effectually Broken Up.
One Scoundrel Hung to Tree and
Another Has His Throat Out
The Region Thrown Into Intense hx-
citement-Mors Interesting Pro-
ceedings Expected in
tho Future.

CHARLESrON, w, Va, OCt. lS.-Slnco
the murder OF the Rev Thomas Z. Ryan,
near Spencer, Roanc county, this state, It
has been learned that an organized band
ot regulators, Of over 900 citizens, farmers
and others, Of Jackson, Roanc, Kanawha,
Clay and Gilmcr counties, has existed for
over six months. The organization was
formed for the purpose Of self-protection
against the organ1ed bands Of robbers and
murdccH who have run riot in certain
territories Of Jackson, Roane and ka-
nawha counties, in which stores have
been robbed and inoilcnsiye people madc
10 suffer. II was about II o'clock Thurs
day night last when the door Of the Rev.
Mr.. Ryan's mountain home was crushed
in, after shot had been fired through the
front door. Mr.. Ryan Immediately sprang
from his bed, grabbed his shot gun,
cooked both barrels, and exclaimed,
"What is wantcdP' The reply
vas from the inner door, "Old man, We
want your money and mean 10 have Il"
| A second shot WIS fired aud Ryan ex-
| claimed "Mothcr '- speaking to his wife
a am killed. | am shot through the
! bowclF' Thcroupon one barrel oi his
shu, gun WIS discharged, taking effect in
the side ui the room, supposed tn have
been caused hy his fall. This caused
halt and the wife and u son took Ryan 10
an upstairs rbum, after which the miii-
drrrrs five in numbcrl mnsnckcd the
lower part oi the house, getting nothing
and overlooking money near ut hand.
Strong circumstantial evidence pointed
] a.. 4 tI....l..s Itn H. HRlt
VI. nun and Perry Drake, for whom war
rants wcrr issued Drake WIS quietly at
rested ut his home. Constable Gibson
aud q possc oi about sixty went 10
the residences of Gcorgv Duil rr., IN kain-
tuck, jackson county, where GCurHc lmti,
IT,, and Coon NCr quurUWd. They
had prepared iur an assault, expecting
| troublesome timvs. Coon raw the posse
, moving upon'thc houHc, cuolly notified two
= lrualuH present to leave, aS thcU Mas ~.
! ! Ing tn he q rnw. lpon the approach Oi
|, the officers Coon warned them away, and
Z. Immediately opened iiW with pistol. Tho
, fire was returned 10y the uilicrr. and Tor 10
! few minutes bullets Flew thick md fast
, lrpm each party. The outlaws took rlngo
, in nu upstairs nom. Nhcp nIn was
brought down los q shot from q rifle. Tho
officers then surrounded the house, and
wcr' about Ia sct II on fire, when old man
, Duii, u respectable farmer, prevailed upon
Coon to surrender, which lac did, ~ his
ammunition WIS about exhausted Robert
NJ Dufl WIS arrested the same day last
Friday, at his home near that oi his father.
On Saturday noon the prisoners wcp
taken to the scene ui their crime, aud a
, Justice set yesterday ior their preliminary
l trial Meanwhile George Du1, jr died at
) home SUNDAY night. The rcrt ui the
D. prisoners Wcrr taken Ia ncighbur's housr,
4 Whrrr they Wcr kept under guard until
SUNDAY night, when about .DO masked
men took Coon from the officers aud, with
:, q rupc around his neck, hurried him Ia a
!. convenient tpc. On his way he prayed
J. nnd made confession, which IL Ia be- ~.
i cciycd with doubt. The substance is that
3. hu was guilty ~ participating ih ihc muir
y der: that Bob and Gcuur Dun Nctc along;
j that George Dull iircd the fatal shot from
4 | his lCopn'sl revolver. Some E,y lac imph-
d Gated drake, oihcr- say he did not speak oi
r him. Whatever the confession was, ho
! WIS Immediately hung, dying game.
, After the hanging oi Coon, the regulators
b went after llob Dun and hurricdly took
I him toward the scene Of Coons execution.
\ Il IN both alleged aud denied that he con.
}. irsspd. Shots wcp' fired nj the mob either
a by guards uf friends Of Duff. The mol
y aaitcrrd instantly In the early morning
4 lThunalayl the body OF Rob Dun wa,
!. found ii the public road with his throat
4 cut and irghiiul stalls in the chest, almost
I, In sight Of the bouy Of Coon, which wa,
u still hanging Ia the tree. Neither wal
touched until late Sunday evening, wher
y coruncr's jury assembled and adjourned
without discovering anything. Coon, VIII,
had no friends near, was buried by {
!. farmer. Relatives Of Duff took charge O
!. his remains and buried them near hil
m home yesterday
= Drake was spared and yesterday takci
7" to the Ryan residence for examination
- A large crowd oi armed men were present
ii determined upon lynching him. II,
~ waived examination, and was ordered 4
Il the iail IN Charleston. After much trou
4. bic aud danger he reached here tonight
ii under the guard Of Capt. Burnett, Of th,
m Eureka detective agency, and a stronI
(. posse. No warrants have been issued 10
NJ ban Cunningham, whom II Is alleged wa
H. one Oi the gang oi murderen.
IN A. the investigation OF the affair pro
b. grr9cs interesting results are certain
Officers arr after others who arc said 10 b
members Of the outlaw band. Coon cam,
here from Tyler, Tex, and called himsel
" Jesse James. Great trouble Is expected
n ~ the affair has grown into vendetta an'